Gautama Buddha was also a Cynic, kicking off all the sensual pleasures, and turned in "skeleton," until he adopted the middle way. Thanks to that river which irresistible flow of water, was taking away Buddha to the death and he hardly escaped from it, and recognized there is nothing in Cynicism … and better to live a moderate life.

The idea of Cynicism revolves around that "Virtue is the detachment from earthly pleasures and possessions." That’s why; a fool, named Diogenes lived in a tub. And others of same belief did nonsense things in their lives. And, apart from this "virtue," they discarded all other knowledge and lived the life in nonsensical way.

This is unfortunate to say that the school Cynic, founded by Antisthenes couldn’t learn from the teachings of Socrates rather distorted his teachings by their prejudices and vague reasoning.

In India, you can also find some saint looking people living a hardcore ascetic life with all sorts of pain and sufferings. They are nothing more than the Cynics, whose knowledge and intellect is limited … very limited.

Ancient Greek was segmented in small-small states, and each state used to have its own laws and rules, working totally independently from other states. The population in each state was not much, so every person of the state used to be a politician and legislator, and for this, was mad after power, money and fame.

Most of the philosophers and their teachings were not concerned at improving the ethical character of the man, for example, Thales, Pythagoreans, Heraclietus, Empedocles and Atomists, etc., didn’t give in that concern. Even few tried by introducing the concept of being and intelligence, but they couldn’t put their points very well and their teachings were faded away from the minds.

The people were confused between right and wrong; between ethical and unethical. The only way, to win over others and to gain some power and status in the state, was of articulation and manipulation. The public speaking, the ready made speeches and quotes, and other modes of verbal mastery took place. The only purpose was to win over others; nobody cared about morals, ethics and values of life. The people who were expert in these things (called Sophist), they taught people the art of verbal manipulation and supporting subjects for it; they charged money for their teachings, yet gave no concrete concept to follow.

The sophists couldn’t establish any school of thought, as their teachings were not based on truth, nor they tried to discover the truth but refuted all the existed principles of the truth.

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A fool shows himself, an intelligent. And, an intelligent thinks himself, an ignorant. Ego plays the great role; in fact, it is hard to decide for other one, and it is easy to decide for oneself. An egoless person can’t see ego in anyone, nor would say, “You have the ego problem,” rather, would assist you to take a jump beyond it.

It is called Socrates irony, as people are expert to coin new phrases; in fact, this was his wisdom. He used to remain ignorant, while asking questions to people, and side by side, kept on controlling, refuting and developing the discussion to reach to the ultimate truth; this way, he ever led the discussion, putting himself with fewer wise sentences.

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Matters are infinitely mixed into each other, and it takes infinite time to separate a single matter. Thus, Gold is not a pure matter; only Gold particles are in excess. Though each matter is mixed with other matters, each matter has separate identity, not derived from another matter or combination of matters. The force that drives these matters is called “Nous,” or say, “intelligence.” So the creation is the concept of matter and intelligence.

Above are the teachings of Anaxagoras, born in 500 B.C., If you take above teachings according to Hindus, then, they will call the intelligence — the God, omnipresent and omnipotent; and will call the matter – the maya, the illusion.

Mind it!

Till now, we have gone through different concept of creation (of this universe), i.e., water, indefinite matter, air, numbers, four elements, atoms, and now matter & intelligence. Even, if you read different scriptures (of different religion), unfortunately, you will find different concept of creation. So, the question is who is right and who is wrong, and who will decide it?

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Earlier you read (link), how Empedocles told about creation through four elements, but the atomists went more than that; they discovered the atom, and maintained that it is non-qualitative, all things are created by it.

The Leucippus is called the founder of this theory, and Democritus worked for it and made it popular. The time of their birth is not known, but it was “Before Christ (B.C.,).” … Somewhere, before the birth of Socrates.

They said that atom is indivisible unit, non-qualitative, but atoms differ in sizes, some are bigger and some are smaller. The arrangement of atoms cause object to manifest. Though, atoms don’t have quality, but the object can have the quality, because the quality depends upon the arrangements of the atoms. They also said that the space causes atoms to make distance from each other, so the two things space and arrangement of atoms cause manifestation to take place.

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Guru thinks, Christians say “light” came first, and Hindus says “sound” of Aum is ever present. Let’s check out rationally.

If you see logically: whether light came first or sound. It is sound. Because, before light, it was said, “let there be light,” So, sound came first.

What do you think?

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Mostly, the whole world is like this. Where people are get stuck with the transitory and understand it real, and laugh and cry with the transition. Transitory exists in change, that’s why duality exists.

Heracleitus, born in 535 B.C., (died in 475 B.C.,) wasn’t completely wrong in his teachings, most of his quotes were admired; even, Socrates said to have praised him. But, this concept that “being” is unreal, and “non-being,” is real, looks funny. As he said there is nothing like eternal or permanent, and “being” is just an illusion. He said that change is an ultimate principle.

He considered change, practical and permanence, illusion. He said becoming is everything, as these days most of people think this way also. The whole life, they keep on becoming and becoming; even, they become something; but, still the becoming goes on. Even, in meditation they want to become something and make it an activity. Are you Heracleitus type of? Or, Buddha type of?

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Without air life is impossible, everyone needs air. Air is the first principle, it exists in motion. Through rarefaction air becomes the fire, and this fire gives birth to stars and other elements. And, through condensation air gives birth to water, earth, rocks and other grosser elements.

Anaximenes, born in 588 B.C., (died in 524 B.C.,), inhabitant of Miletus, proposed this idea that air is the first principle, and everything is created out of it.

What do you think? Can air produce things this way?

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Knowledge, an objective concept, a virtue in itself, well reasoned out, binding and true for all men. Which differs man to man, group to group, and region to region, isn’t a true knowledge; nevertheless, a sense perception which has vague assumptions and untested beliefs.

Knowledge is universal; it can’t be true for someone and false for other one. Which doesn’t come on reasons, isn’t the knowledge.

Reason is a tool to settle what knowledge is and what is not. Reasons objectify knowledge that turns in concepts. Knowledge can be understood and can be taught.

Isn’t the definition of knowledge looks interesting? Unfortunately, most of us never reason out the things, and remain far away from the truth. Probably, we do fear!

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They miss knowledge in their life, so, unfortunately are committed to wrong doings. A man having knowledge, infallibly, does what is right.

Now, you might wonder that you know lot of people who have great knowledge and still they are involved in wrong doings. Or, you know lot of good things but fall to what is not suitable to you. Don’t you think this is self deception, rather than knowledge?

Knowledge is what, which goes direct into your blood, veins…DNAs, and without a hitch you become that.

If you repeat anything to convince yourself again and again, then, it is not knowledge – it is parroting. And, superficial things never work in life, it only produces hypocrites. The knowledge comes when we understand it; infallibly, agree to it, and have unflinching faith in it. Then, this knowledge helps us to do what is right.